The Freight Transport Association (FTA) has welcomed new proposals from Kent County Council that aim to address issues of congestion and high traffic volumes on the county's roads in the coming years.

A 12-week consultation has now been launched for the local authority's Local Transport Plan 4: Delivering Growth without Gridlock 2016-2031.

In it, the council has set forth a number of priorities and ambitious targets that it believes will address many of the county's ongoing transport infrastructure issues, including:

• Delivery of a new Lower Thames Crossing
• Splitting port traffic between the M2 and M20 for more efficient traffic management
• Port expansion at Dover Western Docks
• Increased provision for overnight lorry parking
• A lasting solution to the Operation Stack scheme

Responding to the consultation's release, FTA head of policy for London and the south-east Natalie Chapman commented: "The plan identifies a number of issues that FTA agrees should be a priority for Kent. Lorry parking is a problem throughout the country, but it is especially difficult for drivers approaching the Port of Dover to find a safe place to take their breaks.

"We need a decision on the Lower Thames Crossing and the accompanying improvements to the A2 as soon as possible. Plans for a lorry area at Stanford as an alternative to Operation Stack and the proposed traffic management on the motorways towards the port will all play a key role in keeping freight moving."

The FTA believes each of these measures will provide a significant boost to the ability of freight and logistics operators across the county to work in an efficient and cost-effective manner in the coming years. The body is therefore in full support of the proposals and hopes key improvements to transport infrastructure across Kent will receive the green light in the near future.